Mailing-machine.



J. TOMLINSON.

MAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILBD JAN. 20, 1911.

Patented July 28, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

7nd??? Jaisai 60/6,

J. TOMLINSON.

MAILING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 20, 1911.

1,105,314. Patented July 28, 191 1.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Maui?- 122 9 J. TOMLINSON.

MAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1911.

Patented July 28, 1914.

4 SHBET8-SHEET 3.

n9 mm 9 O 225572759: 06 01 Mia): awe,

- J. TOMLINSON.

MAILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11. 20, 1911.

1,105,314, Patented July 28,1914.

4 BHEETSSHEET UNITED STATES PATENT o Fro-E.

JosnPE Tonr msoN, or cHIcAso, ILLfNQIs, Assmnon To cox MULTI-MAIIER COMPANY; OF AUGUSTA, MAINE, A CORPORATION or MAINE.

marnine-maoninn.

Patented .nn zs, 1914.

Application filed January 20, 1911. Serial No. eoaese.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, JOSEPH ToMLINsoN,

- a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county'of Cook and State 'of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mailing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mailing machines, particularly adapted,

though not necessarily'limite'd in its use, fornewspapers, periodicals and the like, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved, simple, durable and ethci'ent machine of this character having means for feeding, addressing, and folding the papers; a further object being the provision of an improved machine of this character having means whereby the foldin *mechanism maybe rendered inactive at Wil while the remaining mechanism remains active.

A still further object is the provision of an improved machine of this character having means whereby the printing or address-ap- 2 p'lyinv mechanism may be rendered inactive a win, while the feeding andfolding mechanisms remain active.

A still further object is theprovision of an improved machine of this character h'a'v- 3 ing-m'ea'ns whereby the folded paper'may be supplied with a wrapper, and also means whereby the wrapper supplying mechanism 7 may be rendered inactive at will.

To' the attainment of these ends and theaccomplishment of other new and useful ob- ]ec't s, as will appea'r,-'the invention consists inthe features of novelty i nthe construc-' tion, combination and arrangement'of the several parts hereinafter more fully -de-- scribe'd and claimed' anid shown in theam;

' companyin'gdrawings illustrating an em,

I nected .with the" shaft 15, and a pawl 20, which cooperates with the ratchet and which :pawl is supported by a reciprocating member 21- having a shoulder 22 adapted-to, l)'e--100 engaged by a dog 23 which latter is also 'conbcdiment of the invention, and in which Figure 1 1s .an el vation taken from one side of an improved machine of thi s char acter constructed in accordance =w1'th; theprinciples'of this invention. Fig. 2is af'view similar to Fig. 1 taken from the opposite jsideofthemachine. {Fig '3 is a-right'hand end ,eievationnfr Figa I; parts omitted.

- Fig i is a detail sectional view on line 44:, 1. Fig-5. is a side elevation of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a; sectiona-l'viewbn jhne '6ji6, Fig.

l, with parts "omitted;

Referring more particularly to the drawings and in the present exemplification of the invention, the mechanism is mounted upon a suitable supporting structure in the form of a frame designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and arranged at one side or end of the frame is a hopper designated generally by the reference numeral 11 into which the papers 12 are placed on end and these papers are fed forwardly and ejected one at "a time from the hopper-by suitable mechanism. The specific construction and operation, however, of the paper feeding mechanism forms no part of the present invention but is preferably of the ty e -shown .70 and 'describ'ed in British Patent 0. 27,835 of 1904. Sufiice it to say, however, that the "papers 12 are advanced in the hopper by means of a follower 13 and there is provided in the bottom of the hopper one or more flexible members 14 in the form of endless eonveyers which pass over suitable pulleys, one of which is secured to a suitable shaft 15 arranged at the front of the hop- One of the 'runs of the endless flexible member passes through the hopper and the follower 13 is connected therewith in the manner describe'din the above referred to patent so that as the endless member is advanced'the follower 13 will force the papers .85 12 forwardly. The usual needle block 14 is arranged to berec-iprocated at the forward end of the hopper 11 and receives its reciprocating movement from a rock shaft 15 to which it is connected,through the medium .90 of a link 16, one end of which latter is also connected with'the shaft 15 and a crank arm 17 (see Fig. 1) which latter is secured to a shaft 18. The endless conveyor 14' is adapted to ,be intermittently advanced through the mediumof aratchet 19 '(see Fig. 2) cohis elevated it will raise the. reciprocating x member- 21ito eausethe pawl 20 to engage one tootl-r oftthe'ratchet 1 -9 and thereby partone ste of movement toth'e follower 23, the needle block 14 will ride overthe sure" face of the outermost paper'in the hopper, but when the shaft 15 is rocked in the opposite direction to lower the dog 23, the peedle block 14 will also be lowered and the needles in the block'will penetrate the outermost paper and eject the latter from the supply.

The usual suckers 24 are arranged adjacent the forward end of the hopper and are adapted to engage and raise the lowermost edge ofthe foremost paper and stop mem-. bers 25 (see Fig. 1) are also-arranged at the forward end of the hopper and are adapted to move out of the path of movement of the edge of the paper when the latter isbeing raised by thesuckers andto move beneath said edge and into the path of the advancing movement of the next paper, after the lower edge of the ,foremost paper has been raised. The air is exhausted from the suckers 24 in the manner described and claimed in the above referred to patent and the suckers are adapted to be rocked so as to be moved into engagement with the edge of the paper in any suitable manner, such as by means of a gear 25 (see Fig. 2) secured tot-the sucker supporting shaft 26, and a segment 27 engages the gear 25 for rotating the latter.-

This segment 27 is formed on the end of an arm 28 which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends at 29 and the free end 30 of the arm is provided with a projection which moves in a cam groove 31 in the cam wheel 32. This cam wheel 32 is secured to the shaft 33 for rotation therewith. Motion is imparted to all of the above referred to parts in any suitable manner, preferably by means of a motor 34 on the shaft of which is secured a gear 35 which gear meshes with a gear 36 and a gear 37 is secured to the gear 36 for rotation therewith. This gear 37 meshes with a gear 38 (shown more clearly 'in Figs. 1 and 4 which gear is mounted loosely upon a stu shaft 39 for a pur ose to be hereinafter set forth, and is secure to the shaft '39 for rotation therewith in any desired or suitable manner preferably by means of a clutch comprising members 40, 41, one of which members 40 is formed on the gear 38 and the other member 41 is secured to the shaft 39 for rotation therewith and is adapted to be moved longitudinally on the shaft 39 out of engagement with the member 40 so that the gear 38 will be locked or unlocked with respect to the shaft 39 according to the position of the member 41 with respect to the member 40. This ear 38 meshes with a gear 42 which gear in turn meshes with another gear 43 secured to and for rotation with the shaft 18. The gear 43 in turn meshes with a gear 44 secured to and ionic.-

tation with the shaft 33.- Thus it willbe seen that when the motor 34 is operated, its

-motion will be transmitted throu h the train of gears just described to the s aft 18 for rotating the crank 17 and the rotation of this crank 17 will in turn rock the shaft 15 through the medium of the link 16. The rotary motion of the gear 43 will be imparted to the shaft 33 through the medium of the gear 44 meshing therewith and secured to the shaft 33'is a cam 45 which cam is adapted to rock the stop member 25 about its point of pivotalsupport 46, through the medium of a projection 47 on the stop member 25 which projection has engagement with the cam 45. A second cam 48 is provided onthe shaft 33 andhas engagement with a projection 49 (see Fig. 1) on an arm 50 which latter is pivotally supported as at 51 and said cam serves as means for rocking the arm 50 about its pivot 51. This arm 50 is provided as .a means for opening and closing the valve mechanism which controls the sucker and for this purpose it may be connected with the sucker valve operating mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 52, in Fig. 1, by means of a link 53, as shown. Thus it will be seen that when the shaft 33 is rotated motion will be imparted to the stop member 25 and also to the arm 50 for opening and closing the sucker valve. Obviously the cams 45 and 48 are so arranged with respect to each other that they will operate upon their respective parts at the proper time so as to ermit the stop to bein the proper position efore the sucker valve is openedpr closed.

is elevated by the suckers 24 it will be resented to feeding rolls 54, 55, arrange in close proximity to "the end of the supply hopper and one above the other. One of these feeding rolls, preferably the up er roll 54, may be ournaled in a yielding earing 56 so that the roll will yield with respect to its companion roll to accommodate papers of varying respectively secured thereto gears 57, 58, by means of which motion may be imparted to the rolls and idler gears 59, 60 mesh with each other and respectively with the gears 57, 58. Another idler gear 61 is provided which meshes with the gear 60 and also with the gear 44 on the shaft 33 so that when" the shaft 33 is rotated in the manner already set forth, and the gear 44 is rotated, rotary motion will be im arted to the rolls 54, 55,

through the me ium of the gears 61, 60, 59,-

58 and 57.

An incline or chute 62 (see Fig. 1) is ar-v ranged adjacent the rolls 54, 55, to receive the papers as the are passed between the rolls and a secon pair of feeding rolls 63, 64, is provided ad acent the extremity'of the inc ine or chute 62 and between which second pair of rolls the pa er' also asses.

One of these rolls, preferab y the re '63, is mounted in a bearing 65 so that this roll may y1eld with respectto its companion thickness. The rolls 54, 55, have roll to accommodate papers varyingthicksness'. The rolls 63, 64 of the second pair of feeding rolls are preferably of a diameter less than the diameter of the rolls 54, 5.5, so T that they will be rotated at a greater rate of speed than the rolls of the first pair, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth, and these i rolls 63, 64,'have respectively secured thereto gears. 66, 67 with which gears idler gears .68, 69, respectively mesh and .the'gears 68,

69, mesh with each other. An idler gear 70 meshes with the ear 69 and secured for rotation with the idler gear 70 is a gear 71 which latter meshes with a gear 72 and this gear 72 in turn meshes with the gear 61. Thus it will be seen that when the gear 61 is I rotated to impart rotation to the rolls 54, 55,

the motion of this gear 61 will .also be imparted to the rolls 63, 64, through the medium of the intermediate and connecting gears 72, 71, 70, 69, 68, 67, 66, and as the diameter of the gears 66, 67, is smaller than the diameter of the rolls 63, 64, to which the latter gears are connected, the rolls 63, 64 will rotate ata greater rate of speed than the rolls 54, 55, and when the paper asses between these rolls 63, 6.4, it will be--' jected or thrown out from between the rolls with sulfi- -cient force to position. the paper upon the folding table with respect to the folding knife without the necessity of additional conveying means, in a manner as will be hereinafter set forth. Y

The pair of rolls 63, 64, is spaced from the rolls 54, 55, the proper distance so that just at the time the rear extremity or edge of the paper passes from between the rolls 54, 55, the forward edge of the paper will pass into the bite of the rolls 63, 64, as will be understood. As the'paper ass from between the rolls 63, '64 and are i position to be folded, the address is applied thereto in any suitable manner preferably inthe manner shown and described in the Patent No. 1,075,966,

issued to Sandford C. Cox October 14, 1913,.

to which patent reference may be had for the specific construction and operation of the mechanism for feedingand positioning the addressing type slugs or elements, inasmuch as the construction and operation of this mechanism forms no partof the present invention, as the slugs may be fed and positioned with respectto the stamper, which latter will be hereinafter described, in any suitable manner. Sufiice it to say that-the type or slugs are arranged in a suitable galley '73 (shown more clearly in Figs. 1,2 and 6) and are advanced to their-printing posi- .-tion-by means of an endless flexible member 74 which-"passes over a suitable pulley 75 and with one run moving in the bottom of "the galley so that-the slugswill rest thereon to-beadvanc'ed thereby. Intermittent mo ticnis imparted to theendless flexible-memher 74 in; any suitable manner such .as by means pf a pawl and a ratchet mechanism 76, 77 and which pawl receives its motion by means of an arm 78 actuated by a cam 79 on the shaft 18 When .the slugs, one of which is represented at 80, in Fig. 1, reach theirprinting position, they are elevated so that the printing surface thereof will be raised above. the top of the galley and into engagement with the. face of the paper, which latterhas'b'en ejected from the rolls .63, 64, onto the supporting table 81. The type is raised in the manner set forth inthe lastreferredto application by means of an elevating plunger operated by means of a cam 82 on the shaft 83 shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, and this shaft 83- receives its motion by means of a gear 84 on the shaft and which gear meshes with a gear 85, the gear 85 in turn meshing with the gear 44 on the shaft 33. This gear 84 is loosely mountedon the shaft 83 (shown more clearly in Fig. 3), and is secured to the shaft for rotation therewith by means of a clutch comprising the members 86, 87, themember 86 being secured to the gear 84 for rotation therewith while the member 87 is secured to the shaft 83 for rotation therewith and is adapted to be adjusted on the shaft longitudinally thereof so as to move into and out of. engagement with the companion member 86 to lock the gear 84 to, or release the gear with res ect to, the shaft 83. This member 87 may e secured in its adjusted position in any desired or suit-able manner, such as by means of a fastening device 88 engaging the member and the shaft. After the type 80 has beenprinted from, it is ejected from its-printing position in the manner described in the last referred to patent. The type as it is advancing to its printing posi- "tion may be supplied with ink from an lnk fountain located at any suitable position along the line of movement of the type and a ductor roll 89 may be provided, (see Fig. 2) which is eccentrically su ported upon the end of a rock arm 90 an is adapted to be moved into engagement'with the type in any suitable manner, such as by means of a gear 91'which is connected with the roll 89 and which meshes with 'a gear 92 on the end of the shaft 18 so that when the shaft is rotatedthe gear 91 will be rotated. On account of gear 91 and roll 89 being eccentrically mounted on the arm 90 the gear 91 will ride up on the gear 92 and down again,

thus raising and lowering in proper relation. The arm 90 is consequently rocked, butat the same time operates to hold the gears in mesh. I

When the type is in the position ,to be printed from, and as shown more-clearly in Fig. 1, the address is applied to the paper by imparting ablow to the paper to force it :downupon the .type 80. This is accomplished by means of a Stamper similar to that shown in the British patent above referred to and comprises a stampin surface -92 shown more clearly in Fig. 6, Wild). surface is pivotally connected'to an arm 93. This arm is pivotally mounted as at 94 to a suitable support on the supporting structure. Connected with the arm 93 is a rod or stem 95 which passes through a suitable ing surface 92 into engagement with t e paper. The arm 93 isrocked about its point of pivotal support 9 1 in a direction to move the stamping surface 92 away from the paper in any suitable manner such as by means of a cam 99 (see also Fig. 3), which cam is secured to and for rotation with the shaft 83. An arm 100 is provided, one end of which is pivoted to a suitable fixed support 101 as at 102 and the other extremity projects over the cam 99 and is provided with an anti-friction roller 103 whichengages and rests upon the periphery of the cam; A pin 104 passes through a suitable guide, preferably a portion of the galley 7 3 so as to engage and rest upon the arm 100. The other extremity of the pin 104 has engagement with an adjustable member 105 as shown more clearly in Fig. 8, and which member 105 .is supported by the arm 93. Thus it will be seen that when the shaft 83 is rotated in the manner already described, the cam 99 will be rotated and when the high ortion of the cam is in engagement with t e anti-friction roller 103 the arm 93 will be raised against the tension of the elastic member-98, through the medium of the-pin 104. The arm 93 will be held in this elevated position until the low portion of the cam is in proximity to the anti-friction roller 103 at which time the tension of the elastic member 98 will force the arm 93 downwardly with a quick movement, and into engagement with the paper to force the latter against the type. ,After the type has been printed from, 1t is ejected and a new type presented for the next paper in the manner escribed in the United States patent referred to.

In order to arrest the paper when it is ejected or fed by the rolls 63, 64, and to position it onthe support 81 an adjustable stop .106 is provided and this stop is provided with stems 107 passing loosely through bearings 108 (shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and '7). Thebearings 108 are mounted for pivotal movement by means of a rock. shaft 109 (see also Fig. 3) to which the bearings are secured and this rock shaft is journaled in suitable bearings 110, and the bearings 108 are secured to the rock shaft 109 for simultaneous movement in any desired or suitable manner so that when the shaft 109 is rocked in a manner to be hereinafter set forth, the stops 106 will be raised and lowered with respect to the supporting surface 81 according to the direction of movement of the shaft. In order to hold the stop 106 in the position to which it has been adjusted for accommodating papers of varymg widths, suitable fastening devices 111 are provided which pass through the bearings 108. and impinge'the stems 107. When necessary to carry the addressed paper away so as to make room for the next paper. In order to accomplish this result, ejecting means must be provided which will grasp the paper and convey it away from the support 81. It is also necessary to raise the stop 106 to permit the addressed paper to be conveyed away and to again lower the stop into position to arrest the next paper to be addressed. An suitable mechanism may be rovided for t is purpose and a simple an efiicient mechanism will now be escribed, reference being had particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 7.

The shaft 109 is provided with an arm 112 which arm is in turn connected with a rock shaft 113 through the medium of another arm 114, which latter is pivotally connected as at 114 by one extremity to the arm 112 and is secured by'its other -extremity to the shaft 113, so that when the shaft 113 is rocked in. the manner to be presently described, the arm 114 will be raised or lowered to raise or lower the am 112 and this movement of the latter will rock the shaft 109 andinasmuch as the bearings 108 are connected with the shaft 109' they will be correspondingly rocked and the sto 106 will be raised or lowered thereby. ocking movement may be imparted to the shaft 113 by means of an arm 115 which is secured intermediate its ends to the shaft 113' and connected'to one extremity of the arm 115 is one end of a link 116, reference being- I I now had particularly to Fig. 1. The other is pivotally supported as at 118.- The other arm 119 of the bell crank lever is disposed adjacent the cm 120 on the shaft 83 and an anti-friction roll 121 is provided on the arm 119, which has engagement with the periphery of the cam 120. Thus it will be seen that when the shaft 83 is. rotated the cam.

120 will be likewise rotated and the high portion of this cam when in engagement with the anti-friction roller 121 on the arm 119 will raise the arm 117 of the bell crank lever, which latter will through'the medium of the link 116 raise the arm 115 and thereby impart a rocking movement to the shaft 113. As this shaft 113 is rotated in a clockwise direction by the raising of the arm 117, the arm 114 on the shaft 113 will be lowered and this movement will in turn rock the shaft 109 in a contra-clockwise direction, which will lower the stop 106 into engagement with the paper supporting surface 81. The anti-friction roller on the arm 119 of 'the bell crank lever is held in engagement with the periphery of the cam 120 in a manner which will now be described. The other end 122 of the arm 115 projects beyond the shaft. 113 and pivotally connected thereto and by one extremity is a bar or rod 123, the free end of which passes through a suitable guide 124 and the extremity of this bar or rod 123 is threaded as shown for the reception of a nut or collar 125. An elastic member 126 such as a coil spring or the like surrounds the bar or rod 123 so that one extremity thereof will engage and rest against the guide 124 and the other extremitywill engage and rest against a collar or shoulder 127 on the bar or rod123. This elastic member is so arranged that it tends normally toexert itstension upon the arm 115 to move the arm 119 of the bell crank lever toward the periphery of the cam 120 so that after the stop 106 has been raised by the high portion of the cam 120, in the manner just described, the elastic member 126 will serve as a means for lowering the stop 106 when the low portion of the cam is adjacent the arm 119 of the lever.

It is thought that the operation of the mechanism thus far described will'be clearly understood'but briefly stated it is as follows: Assuming the machine to be in operation, a paper will be ejected from the supply 12, its lower edge will be raised by the sucker 24 andpresented to thebite of the rollers 54, 55. These rollers will force the paper down the incline or chute 62 into the bite of the rollers 63, 64, and from these rollers the paper will be ejected onto the supporting surface 81. Before the paper has reached the supporting surface 81, the stop 106 ,will be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the advancing movement of the paper will be arrested thereby. The paper being thus positioned upon the supporting surface 81, the address slug 80 will be elevated to a printing position and the cam 99 (see Figs. 5 and 6) mill have assumed a position that the low portion thereof will be adjacent the anti-friction roller 10-3 on the arm 100. In this position the elastic member 98 will act upon the arm 93 to throw the printing surface 92 against the paper and force the latter into engagement with the printing slug 80. After the printing operation the slug will be ejected and the stop 106 elevated or moved out of the way of the addressed paper. At this time .the addressed paper will be gripped by the ejecting rollers and thrown forwardly under the stop 106 to be conveyed away, in a manner which will now be described. Arranged adjacent the side of'the support 81 opposite to that adjacent which the arm 115 is located is another arm 128 reference being now had particularly to Fig.3, and this arm is supported upon any suitable fixed support for pivotal movement with the arm 115. A shaft 129 (see also Fig. 1) connects the arms 115 and has a bearing in each of the arms. Secured to and for rotation with the shaft 129, between the arms 115 and 128, are rolls 130, any number of which may be provided, but in practice it has been found that two rolls are sufiicient when properly spaced from each other. Extending beneath the supporting surface 81 is another shaft 131 which has suitable bearings in a portion of the frame work or a fixed support, and to this shaft 131 are secured rolls 132, one for each of the rolls 130 and with which they cooperate. The shaft 131 is so arranged that a portion of the periphery of the rolls 132 will project above the surface of the support 81 so that the papers when resting upon the surface 81 will rest against the projecting portion of the periphery of these rollers. Inasmuch as the shaft 129 is supported by the arms 115, 128 and as these arms are adapted for pivotal movement when the arm 115 is rocked by the cam 120 in the manner already described, it will be apparent that the rolls 130 will be moved toward and away from the rolls 132 according to the direction of movement of the arms. When the rolls 130 are lowered toward the rolls 132 they will engage the upper surface of the papers on the support 81 and the paper will thus be gripped between the rolls 130 and 132. It will therefore be seen that when the 1 stop l06 is elevated the rolls will be low ered into engagement with the paper and if motion is imparted to these rolls 130, 132, it will be obvious that the paper will be ejected or shotofl" of the support 81 by the rolls 130, 132. In order, therefore, to accomplishthis operation it'is only necessary to impart a a rotary motion tothe rolls 130, 132, when they are both in engagement with the paper.

This may be accompllshed from the gear 84 which is secured to the shaft 83 (reference being now had particularly to Fig. 1) through the medium ofa train of'gears',

which will now be described. An idle gear 133. is provided which meshes with the gear 84 and also with another idle gear 134, (see also Fig. This gear 134 in turn meshes with a gear 135 on the shaft 131 which latter imparts rotation to the rolls 132. a A second gear 136 is secured to the shaft 131 (see Fig. 1), and this latter gear meshes with a gear 137 (see also Fig. 3) so that motion will be communicated from the shaft 131 to the shaft 129 of the upper rollers 130. This gear 137 meshes with a gear 138 which latter in turn meshes with a gear 139 on the shaft 129. Thus it will be seen that a rotary motion will be imparted to the rolls 130, 132 and the gears are so arranged that they Wlll all remain in mesh during the adjustment or movement of the rolls 130, toward or away from the rolls 132. The papers thus addressed will be delivered from the machine in what is known as a flat condition, that is, in a half fold. It is sometimes desirable to fold thepaper after it has been addressed and before it leaves the machine. In order, therefore, to accomplish this result, the eiecting rolls 130, 132 must be ren dered inactive, as they would otherwise grip and eject the paper before it is folded. This may be accomplished in one of two ways, one only of which will now be described. The rolls 130 are elevated to theirhighest position which will depress the end 122 of the arm 115 and when in this position, or the position shown in Fig. 1, the nut or collar 125 is adjusted on the extremity of the bar or rod 123 until it is brought into engagement with the guide 124 through which the rod or bar extends. Thus it will be seen that inasmuch as the collar 125 is then in engagement with the guide 124 the rolls 130 will be held in..their elevated position and the arm 119 of the bell crank lever will be held out of engagement with the periphery of the cam 120. In this position, it will be apparent that the cam 120 may rotate with the shaft 83 without affecting the arm 119.

As has already been stated, the sto 106 will be lowered into engagement with the paper supporting surface 81 when tl'lBTOllS 130 are elevated and inasmuch as the rolls 130 cannot be raised or lowered without readjusting the collar 125 the stop 106 will remain in position to arrest the papers as they are ejected onto the support 81. The support81. is provided with a slot 140 (see Fig. 3) above which a folding blade or knife 141 is arranged. This knife or blade 141 is supported by means of an arm 142 mounted for pivotal movement asat 143. The arm 143- is provided with an extension 144 to which is secured by one extremity a rod or stem 145, the free. end .of wh1ch passes through a suitable-guide 146. The extremity of this endof. the bar or rod 145 is threaded as shown and a nut or collar 147 blade or knife 141 into engagement with the paper which rests upon the support 81 and to .force the paper through the opening 140. Inasmuch as the blade 141 is arranged transversely with respect to the shaft 129, it is necessary to provide an elongated slot 149 in the blade (see Figs. 1 and 2). so that-the free movement of the blade will not be interfered with.

The arm 142 is rocked in a direction to move the blade 141 away from the support 81 and the paper thereon and against the tension of the elastic member 148, by means ofa cam 150 which is secured to a shaft 151 for rotation therewith. The arm 142 is provided with another extension 152 which is adapted to be moved into engagement with the periphery of the cam 150 by the tension of the elastic member 148 and an anti-friction roller 153 is provided on the arm 152. Thus it will be seen that when the shaft 151 is rotated, the high part of the cam 150 whenit is in engagement with the anti-friction roller 153 on theextension 152 of the arm 142, will rock the arm about its pivot and thereby raise the blade 141 to the position shown in Fig. '3. WVhen the low part of the cam 150 is adjacent the antifriction roller 153 the elastic member 148 will exert its tension on the arm 142 to lower the blade 141 suddenly, thereby-causing the blade to strike the paper a blow over the opening 140 to force the papertherethrough. The shaft 151 receives its motion from the shaft 33 (reference being now had particularly to Fig. 2) through the medium of a gear 154 on the shaft 33 which meshes with a bevel gear 155 on. the shaft 151. 155 i mounted loosely upon the shaft 151 and is secured to the shaft for rotation therewith in any desired or suitable'manner sothat the gear may be locked or released with respect to the shaft'at will to cause the latter to rotate or to permit it to stand idle .while the remaining portion of the mechanismis in operation, at will. A suitable and efficient means for accomplishing this result comprises the clutch member 156 which cocperates with a clutch face on the gear 155 and this clutch member 156- is adapted for adjustment longitudinally on the shaft 151 so that it may bemoved out of engagement or operating position with re- This gear ing device such as a fastening screw 157. Thus it will be seen that when the shaft 33 is rotated in the manner already described, and when the clutch member 156 is adjusted to lock the gear 155 to the shaft 151, the latter will be rotated and the cam 150 will likewise be rotated for operating the knife or blade 141.

When the paper is forced through the opening 140 by the knife or blade 141, it is gripped between folding rolls to be conveyed away. Any number of these rolls may be provided but in the, present exemplification of the invention three sets 158, 159, 160 are shown and these rolls are arranged in pairs, one on each side of the opening 140. Eachof these sets of rolls are provided respectively with gears 161, 162, 163 and intermediate gears 164 are provided between the gears 161, 162 to mesh with the respective gears of the pairs and with each other, and similar intermediate gears 165 are provided between the pairs of gears 162, 163 so as to mesh with each other and with the respective gears of the pairs. Motion is imparted to these rolls 158, 159, 160 preferably from the shaft 151 through the medium of a gear 166 (see Fig. 3) on the shaft which meshe with an idler gear 167. This gear in turn meshes with another idler 168, the latter meshing with an idler 169 and this idler 169 in turn meshes with one of the gears of the pair 164, thereby imparting the motion of the shaft 151 to the gears 164 which latter act as driving gears for the folding rolls. In the event that it is not desired to fold the paper after it has been addressed this folding mechanism may be thrown out of operation in one of two ways.

By adjusting the clutch member 156 on the shaft 151 so as to release the gear 155 with respect thereto, it will be apparent that although the gear 155 will be rotated by the shaft 33, the shaft 151 will remain idle and therefore the cam 150 will remain idle and the arm 142 and blade 141 will not be moved and the rolls 158, 159, 160 will also remain idle. This rendering inactive of the folding mechanism will in no way affect the feeding and addressing of the papers, as this latter portion of. the mechanism wlll continue to operate even 'though the folding mechanism is rendered inactive. Thesecond manner of rendering the folding blade 141 inactive is by the adjustment of the collar or nut 147 (see Figs. 2 and 3) on the extremity of the,

rod or bar 145 into engagement with the guide 146 which will hold the blade 141 elevated in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, against the tension of the elastic member 148 and ih'=:this position the anti-friction roller 153 on the extension .152 of the arm 142 will be held in such a' position that. it will not be affected by the rotation of the cam 150. It maybe desired at times, v

'to Figs. 1 and 2.

. the paper has been thus folded by the blade 141,'to supply a wrapper thereto and in order that this maybe accomplished suitable mechanism is provided which will now be described, reference being had particularly Arranged beneath the pair of rolls 159 are endles conveyers 170, 171, any number of which maybe provided and are arranged in pairs one, above the other with one of the runs of one tape'in close proximity to one of the runs of-the other to form a conveyer *for gripping a wrapper and advancing it into position across the path of movement of the folded paper. The tapes 170 receive their motion through the medium of inter-meshing gears 172, 173, with one of which gears the gear 85 'meshes (see Fig. 1) and which latter receives its motion from the motor 34 in the manner as has already been described. The wrapper 174 is preferably supplied in the form of a strip which is perforated'intermediate its length and passes between feed rolls 175, 176, arranged in pairs and from the feed rolls 176 the wrapper passe between the adjacent runs of the tapes 170, 171. These rolls 175, 17 6 receive their motion from the shaft 39 on which is mounted a gear 177, reference being now had particularly to Fig. 4. This gear 177 meshes with gears 178, 179, which in turn mesh with one of the gears'of the respective pairs of gears on the rolls 17 5, 17 6. A'perfor'atoris provided for perforating the wrapper 174 in the required lengths and this perforator is operated from the shaft 39 and is preferablyv located between the pairs of rolls 175, 176. The specific construction and operation, however, of this perforator forms no part of the present invention and further illustration thereof is thought to be unnecessary.

The tapes 170, 171 are so arranged with respect to the rolls159 that they will advance the wrapper to a position to extend across the path of movement of the paper as it is passing between the rolls 159. As the folded paper i advanced through the rolls 159 the edge thereof will strike the wrapper and the wrapper and paper will be advanced so as to pass between the rolls 160 to be conveyed away.-

In order to sever the wrapper from the sheet aft-en it has been perforated, the rolls to which the gears 172, 173 are secured and between which the wrapper passes after leaving the rolls 17 6, are rotated at a rate of speed slightly greater than the rate of speed of rotatiorr of the gears 176, and this increased speed of rotation will snap or tear the wrapper from the web. I

When it is desired to fold the papers after being addressed and deliver them from the machine in the folded condition without supplying a wrapper thereto, all that is necessary is'to shift t he'clut'ch. member 41 on the shaft 39, so as to move the same out of operating position with respect to the clutch face 40 of the gear 38 (reference being had now more particularly to Fig. 4 in connection with Fig.1). This will release the gear 38 with respect to the shaft 39 and although the gear may be rotated by the motor 34 to impart motion to the remaining portion of the mechanism, the wrapper feeding mechanism will be thrown out of operation. When it is desired to fold the paper without applying an address thereto, it is necessary to render the address applying mechanism inactive as well as the ejecting rolls 130, 132. And as both of these mechanisms are actuated from the. shaft 83 through the medium of the gear 84, all that is necessary is to shift the gear 84 longitudinally on the shaft 83 so that it will be moved out of mesh with the gear 133 and the gear 85. This is accomplished by releasing the clutch member 87 (see Fig. 3) and moving the gear 84 on the shaft 83 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. This adjustment of the gear 84 constitutes the second manner above referred to for rendering the rolls 130, 132 inactive. While this portion of the mechanism is rendered inactive, the feeding and folding mechanism remains active and a wrapper may be supplied to the paper thus folded by locking the gear 38 for rotation with the shaft 39 in the manner as already described. If, however, it is not desired to supply the wrapper to the unaddressed folded paper, the wrapper supplying mechanism may be rendered inactive by releasing the gear 38 with respect to the shaft 39 in the manner as has already been described Thus it will be apparent that with this improved mechanism it is possible to address a paper and eject it from the machine in a flat or half-fold condition, or the paper may be addressed and ejected from the machine in'a quarter-fold. A further possibility of the mechanism is that the paper may be addressed and folded and delivered from the machine with a wrapper or it may be addressed and folded and delivered from the machine without a wrapper, and furthermore the papers may be folded and delivered unaddressed from the machine without a wrapper or the unaddressed paper may be folded and delivered from the machine'with a wrapper, all at the will of the o erator, thereby roducinga machine whic might be terme a universal machine adapted to meet the demands of the various publishers or users. The handle 178 is provided as a means whereby the machine may be initially started.

What is claimed as new is-'- 1. In a machine of the character described,

ingthe articles, means for operating said mechanisms, and means for'throwing said folding mechanism into and out of operation at will without disturbing said other mechanisms and while the other mechanisms remain active. 3

2. In a machine of the character described,

the combination of feeding mechanism for the articles, mechanism for applying addresses to the articles, mechanism, for folding the articles, means for operating said mechanisms, and means for throwing said address-applying mechanism into and out of operation at will without disturbing said other mechanisms and while the other of said mechanisms remain active.

. 3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of feeding means for the articles, mechanism for applying addresses to the articles, mechanism for folding the articles, a source of power, means connected to said source and common to said mechanisms for operating the latter, and means for rendering either of said folding or address-applying mechanisms active or inactive at will independently of the other and while the other of said mechanisms remains active.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of mechanism for supplying the articles, mechanism for folding the articles, mechanism for supplying a wrapper to the folded article, means for operating said mechanisms, and means whereby said wrapper supplying mechanism may be rendered active or inactive at will, while the article supplying and folding mechanisms remain active.

. a 5. In a machine of the character described,

articles, mechanism for applying an address' to the articles, mechanism for folding the articles, mechanism for supplying a, wrapr.to the folded article, means for operat mg said mechanisms, and means whereby any one or more of the said mechanisms may be rendered active or inactive at will, to permit the other of said mechanisms to remain active, and operate on the articles.

7 In a machine of the character described,

the combination of address applyin mechanism, means for supplying theartic es to the address applying mechanism, mechanism for 5 means for rendering either of'the said mechanisms ineffective to operate upon the articles, while the other of said'mechanisms remain active to operate on the articles.

8. In a machine of the character described, the -combination of address applying mechanism, means for supplying the articles to the address applying mechanism, mechanism for folding the articles, means for positioning the articleswith respect to the admeans common to'both of said mechanisms for operating the latter, and controlling means for rendering either of the said mechanisms effective or ineffective at will and while the other of said mechanisms remain active.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of address applying mechanism, mechanism for folding the articles, means for feeding the articles to the said address applying and the folding mechanisms, a shiftable stop for positipningthe article with respect to the lastf-"two said mechanisms, mechanisms for shifting, the stop into and out of operating positions, mechanism for conveying the article away after being addressed and without being folded, means for operating said mecha nisms, and means whereby any one or more of the said mechanisms may be rendered inactive at will, while the other of said mechanisms remain active.

10; In a machine of the character described, the combination of address applying mechanism, mechanism for folding the articles, means for feeding'the articles to the said address a plyi and the folding mechanisms, a shi able s-op for positioning the article with respect to the last two said mechanisms, mechanism for shifting the stop into and out of operatingpositions, mechanism for'conveying the article away after being addressed and without being folded,a source of power common to all of the said mechanisms for operating the latter, and means whereby anyone or more of the said mechanisms may be rendered inactive at will while the other of said mechanisms remain active.

11. In a machine of the character de-. scribed, the combination of address applying mechanism, mechanism for folding the articles, means for feeding the articlesto the said address applying an the folding mechanisms, a shiftable stop for positiomng the article with respect to the last two said mechanisms, said stop being movable into and out of operating position, mechanism for ejecting the paper, means whereby the paper ejecting mechanism will be actuated alterdress applying and the folding mechanisms,

, nately with nately with the said stop, means for operating all of the said mechanisms, and means whereby any one or more of the said mechanisms may be rendered inactive at will while the other of the said mechanisms remain active.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of address applying mechanism, mechanism for folding the articles, means for feeding the articles to the said address applying and the folding mechanisms, a shiftable stop for positioning the article with respect to the last two said mechanisms, said stop being movable into and out of operating position, mechanism for ejecting the paper, means whereby the paperv ejecting mechanism'will be actuated alternately with the said stop, a source of power common to, all of the said mechanisms for imparting motion to the latter, and means whereby any one or more of the said mechanisms 'may be rendered inactive while the other of the said mechanisms remain active.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of address applying mechanism, mechanism for feeding the articles thereto, mechanism for ejecting'the articles after being addressed, means movable into the path of movement of the articles by the said ejecting mechanism for positioning the articles with respect to the said address applying mechanism, mecha-' nism for actuating the said positioning means alternately with the said ejecting mechanism, means for imparting motion to the said mechanisms, means for rendering said ejecting means inactive at will, an

means for conveying away the articles when-- ing mechanism, mechanism for feeding the.

articles thereto, mechanism for ejecting the articles after being addressed, means movable into the path of movement of the art cles by the said ejecting mechanism for positioning the articles with respect to the said address applying mechanism, mechanism for actuating the said positioning means-alterthe said ejecting mechanlsm, means for imparting motion to the said mechanisms, means for rendering sald e ecting means inactive at will, and fold ng mechanism adapted to act upon the artlcle when the said ejecting mechanism 15 rendered inactive.

15. In a mach' e of the character described, the combination of address .ap-

lying mechanism, mechan sm for feed ng the articles theretgn-mechamsm for e ecting the articles after being addressed, means movable into the ath of movement of the articles by the sai scribed, the combination of address applying mechanism, mechanism for feeding the articles thereto, mechanism for ejecting the articles after being addressed, means movableinto the path of movement of the articles by the said ejecting mechanism for positioning the articles with respect tothe said address applying mechanism, mechanism for actuating the said positioning means alternately-with the said ejecting -mechanism.'

means for imparting motion to the said mechanisms, means for rendering said ejecting means inactive at will, folding mechanism adapted to act upon the article when the .said ejecting mechanism is rendered inactive, means whereby either of the said ejecting and folding mechanisms may be rendered inactive at will while the otherremains active, and a source of power common to said mechanisms for actuating the latter.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of address applying mechanism, mechanism for feeding the articles thereto, mechanism for ejecting the articles after-being addressed, means mov able into the path of movement of the articles by the said ejecting mechanism for positioning the articles with respect to the said address applying mechanism, mechanism for actuating the said positioningmeans alternately with the said ejecting mechanism, means for imparting -motion to the sald mechanisms, means for renderin said,ejecting means inactive at will, an

conveying away the articles when the said ejecting mechanism is'rendered inactive, the. cooper-5 said ejecting mechanism embod ating rolls adapted for relativebodily movement. Y

' 18. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of address apply ing mechanism, means for feeding artlcles thereto, mechanism for ejecting the articles after being addressed, means movable into and out of the path of movement of the articles by the said eecting mechanism for positioning the articles with .to the said address applying mechanism, mechanism for rendering the said article positioning means active and inactive alternately with the saidejectingmechanism, a source of power common to all of saidmechanisms for imparting means' for motion to the latter, mechanism for folding and conveying the articles away when the said ejecting mechanism is rendered inactive, and means whereby any one or more of the said mechamsms may be rendered 1nact1ve at will while the other of the said mechanisms remain active.

19. In a machine of the character deconveying the articles away when the said ejecting mechanism is rendered inactive, and a means whereby any one or more of the said mechamsms may be rendered inactive at Wlll while the other of the said mechanisms remain active; V

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of address applying mechanism, means for feeding articles thereto, mechanism for ejecting the articles after being addressed, means movable into and out of the path of movement of the articles by the said ejecting mechanism for positioning the articles with respect to the said address applying mechanism, mechanism for rendering the said article positioning means active and inactive alternately with the said ejecting mechanism, means for imparting motion to said mechanisms, mechanism for folding and conveying the articles-away when the said ejecting mechanism is rendered inactive, mechanism for supplying-a wrapper to the folded article,'and means whereby any one or more of the said mechanisms may be rendered inactive-at will while the other of said mechanisms remain active.

21 a machine of the character described,the combination; of address applying mechanism, means for feeding articles thereto, mechanism for ejecting the articles after addressed, means movable into and out of the. path of movement of the articles dress applying mechanism, mechanism for renderin' the'said-article positioning means active :1 ternately with the said ejecting mechanism, means for imparting motion to said mechanisms, mechanism for folding and conveying the articles away when the said ejecting mechanism is rendered inactive, mechanism for supplying a wrapper to the folded article, a source 0 all ofsaid mecha'nimns for'imparting motion to the latter, and means whereby any one or power common toby the said ejecting mechanism for 'positionthe articles with respect to the said admore of the said mechanisms may be rendered inactive at Will While the other of the said mechanisms remain active.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of addressing mechanism for the articles, folding mechanism, means for rendering the folding mechanism active or inactive at will, and means operable when the folding mechanism is inactive for ejecting the article as it comes from the addressing mechanism independently of the folding mechanism.

23. In a. self-contained machine of the character described, the combination of addressing mechanism for the articles, folding mechanism embodying a folding blade, and means for rendering the said blade effective or ineffective at will, and means for ejecting the article as it comes from the addressing mechanism independently of the folding mechanism While the latter is inactive, said ejecting mechanism embodying cooperating rolls between-Which the article is gripped, means for bringing said rolls into operation upon the rendering ineffective of said blade, said folding blade beingarranged in close proximity to the. ejecting rolls and operating transversely of the axes of said rolls.

24. In a machine of the character described, the combination of addressing mechanism for the articles, folding mechanism embodying a folding blade, means for rendering the folding mechanism inactive,

and means for ejecting the article as it comes from the addressing mechanism independently of the folding mechanism While the latter is inactive, said ejecting mechanism embodying cooperating rolls between Which the article is gripped, said folding blade being arranged in close proximity to the ejecting rolls and operating transversely of the axes of said rolls, said rolls being disposed Within the planes of the lateral edges of the blade.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, on this 17th day of January, A. D. 1911.

JOSEPH TOMLINSON.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS A. HOPKINS, CHARLES H. SEEM. 

